Automatic system for monitoring and managing the admittance to parking places

ABSTRACT

An integrated automatic system for remote monitoring and management of vehicle access and parking in urban areas on a selective bases comprises: a mobile recognition device ( 17 ), in which a user code is memorised, and which can be positioned inside a vehicle ( 18 ); a detection sensor ( 11 ) installed close to a respective parking space ( 19 ); a network connecting the detection sensors ( 11 ) to a fixed data collection station ( 20 ); a control centre ( 21 ), connected to the second network, for decoding and reprocessing the data.

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 ofInternational Application PCT/IT2003/000825, filed on Dec. 17, 2003which claims priority from Italian Application No: VRZ00ZA000129, filedon Dec. 17, 2002. The entire teachings of the referenced Applicationsare incorporated herein by reference. International ApplicationPCT/IT2003/000825 was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention concerns an integrated automatic system for remotemonitoring and management of vehicle access and parking in urban areason a selective basis.

More specifically, this invention refers to an integrated automaticsystem for the control and management of spaces designed for the parkingof vehicles in general in urban areas.

According to another aspect, this invention refers to a procedure forthe management of this integrated automatic system.

This invention can be applied in the industrial sector for theproduction of automatisms and transducers in general.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that in countries with a high level of technology, thegrowing number of motor vehicles has made traffic problems extremelyimportant, requiring local administrations to impose limits on thecirculation and parking of vehicles in urban areas.

These problems are particularly evident in town centres and in areaswith a high density of traffic, making it necessary to introducestructured systems to regulate access and to control parking, generallybased on the allocation of limited traffic zones and/or on tariff andselective authorization mechanisms (long-term access and parking permitsfor residents, limited permits for registered users, “time” tariffs foroccasional users, etc.).

Receiver-transmitter devices for the automatic detection of the presenceor transit of vehicles have already been proposed and consolidatedtechnologies already exist on the market, albeit presenting someproblems.

The power of the signals must, in fact, be very low to prevent thesystem from being too complex, to limit the costs and to restrictelectromagnetic pollution to negligible levels, taking into account theconsiderable presence of the devices in highly frequented areas.

A further problem is represented by the fact that the devices currentlyused do not guarantee a high degree of efficiency, presenting aconsiderable number of errors and cases of malfunctioning.

The detection and management means of these systems also require aconsiderable use of human resources, particularly for the materialoperations of monitoring the areas in which access or parking aremanaged selectively.

Another drawback is represented by the fact that the efficacy of themeans used is encumbered by limits and interruptions that are difficultto avoid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention proposes to provide an integrated automatic system forthe remote monitoring and management of vehicle access and parking inurban areas on a selective basis, which is able to eliminate orsignificantly reduce the problems described above.

This invention also proposes to provide an automatic system which canguarantee the possibility of identifying stationary or slowly movingvehicles in specific monitoring points considered useful by themanagement for the functionality of the system.

A further aim of this invention is to provide a system based on theexchange of relatively low-power signals to restrict the electromagneticpower emitted.

This is achieved by means of a system with the features described in themain claim.

The dependent claims described advantageous embodiments of theinvention.

According to another aspect this invention also proposes to provide aprocedure for the management of this integrated automatic system.

This is achieved by means of a procedure with the features described inclaim 7.

The integrated automatic system according to this invention comprises:

-   -   a mobile recognition device, in which a user code is memorised,        which can be positioned inside a vehicle;    -   a detection sensor installed in a respective parking space;    -   a network for the connection of these detection sensors to a        fixed data collection station;    -   a possible second network for the connection of several fixed        stations for the collection of data on respective parking space        areas;    -   a control centre for decoding and reprocessing of the data.

According to the invention the identification code of the user ismemorised in a device appropriately positioned in the respective vehicleauthorized to use the system.

This code allows the management to automatically identify the datarelative to the vehicle and the user, and makes it possible to activatea series of services, including the automatic payment of the parking feeagainst prepaid amounts or by means of authorization to charge the feeto a bank account.

The mobile recognition device is a miniaturized instrument which can bepositioned inside a vehicle and is equipped with a memory containing theuser identification code.

The code is transmitted automatically by radio-frequency to thedetection sensors, located at the accesses or in the parking spaces inthe protected areas.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the procedure for themanagement of this integrated automatic system foresees:

-   -   the detection of the presence of a vehicle in a specific        respective parking space;    -   the recognition of the vehicle as authorized or not authorized        to use the space;    -   the emission of a visual and/or acoustic signal demonstrating        the occupation of the space;    -   the detection of the parking time of the vehicle in the space;    -   the transmission of the occupation of the space and of the data        relative to the recognised or not recognised vehicle to a        general area controller device;    -   the transmission of the data collected by the area controller        device or by several area controller devices to a general        central unit designed to store the data regarding recognised        vehicles and to immediately report any unauthorised parking by        vehicles without authorization;    -   the calculation, by the central unit, of the fee in relation to        the parking time;    -   if required, transmission of the data relative to the fee        charged to the bank authorized for payment with the consent of        the user.

The integrated automatic system, for the remote monitoring andmanagement of vehicle access and parking in urban areas on a selectivebasis, allows rationalised and advantageous management of the problemsregarding access and parking in urban areas.

This system and this procedure also make it possible to achieve highlevels of reliability for the user with reference to the security of thedata contained in the memory of a miniaturized circuit.

The integrated automatic system ensures a significant reduction of thepollution emitted by vehicles in densely populated areas due to adrastic reduction in the time spent by the users in search of a parkingspace.

The transmission of data at low frequencies makes it possible torestrict the levels of electromagnetic pollution well below thethreshold of caution.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become evident onreading the following description of one embodiment of the invention,given as a non-binding example, with the help of the enclosed drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 represents a prospective view, slightly from above, of a columnused to construct the system according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the devices making up the systemaccording to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, the reference number 10 indicates in general a fixed column,in the case in question a column 10 designed to detect the presence of avehicle in a parking space adjacent to it.

In the case illustrated, the column 10 has a cylindrical shape and isequipped with at least one presence sensor 11 designed to detect theparking of a vehicle.

According to other embodiments, the column 10 may have a different shapeand be equipped with a number of presence sensors 11, or a multitaskingsensor.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the presence sensor 11 ispositioned on the side of the column 10. It may, however, be placed inany position.

The side of the column 10 may also be equipped with luminous indicators12 confirming the detection of an authorized or non-authorized vehicle.

The color of these indicators 12 may be green in the first case and redin the second in order to attract the attention of any supervisionpersonnel present in the area or to indicate the possibility orimpossibility of parking.

The upper part of the column 10 may present a buzzer 13 which can beactivated if an unauthorised vehicle is parked.

According to this embodiment, the top 14 of the column 10 is equippedwith an interface 15, for communication with the user, and a slot 16designed to issue receipts or printed messages of use to authorizedusers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM

With reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the integrated automaticsystem for remote monitoring and management of vehicle access andparking in urban areas on a selective basis comprises:

-   -   a mobile recognition device 17, containing a user code, which        can be positioned inside a vehicle 18;    -   a detection sensor 11 installed next to a respective parking        space 19;    -   a network connecting the detection sensors 11 to a fixed data        collection station 20;    -   a second network connecting several fixed stations 20 designed        to collect the data from the respective parking space areas;    -   a control centre 21, connected to the second network, for        decoding and reprocessing the data.

The presence sensors 11 allow both reception of the user code,transmitted by radio-frequency by the identification device 17 when thevehicle is parked, and the detection (not backed by frequency signals)of the presence of vehicles 17 or motorcycles unequipped with theaforesaid device and parked in the parking areas 19 controlled by thesensors.

In the first case, the signal sent to the fixed stations 20 for datatransmission will be the user code.

In the second case, a signal is emitted warning the control centre 21that a vehicle 17 without the identification device is parked(information which can trigger on-the-spot checks).

The need to detect the presence of any vehicle 18 parked in a specificparking area, even if it is not equipped with the recognition device,foresees the use of sensors 11 equipped with two separate electroniccircuits: one dedicated to the reception-transmission of radio-frequencysignals, the other designed to detect the presence of a vehicle in thespecific space, for example a detector which is sensitive to the changesin magnetic induction within a determined space (a parameter which makesit possible to establish the presence or absence of a vehicle 18).

The functioning principle of the interconnected fixed stations 20consists of the acquisition of data (user code or generic parkingsignal) from the detection sensors 11 and the transmission of the datato the central control unit 21.

The fixed stations 20 receive signals from the column 10 positioned atthe start of a certain row of parking spaces or inside a car park.

These columns 10 are powered by connection to a normal electricity powerline.

In order to carry out the required functions, the stations 20 and thecolumns 10 are equipped with specific hardware and firmware.

The control centre 21 acquires all the data from the from the fixedstations 20 located in the peripheral areas and reprocesses them bymeans of the IT system and is equipped with appropriate printing anddisplay options, both on the spot and in remote units.

The IT system not only organises the data by means of specific databasesand software for area management, but also carries out a series ofcomplex processes in order to automatically inform the operators of anyinfringements committed by the users.

Knowing exactly where and by whom the infringement is committed willensure the subsequent notification of the fine and will, if necessary,trigger the intervention of the traffic police.

The identification device 17 consists of a miniaturized transmitterwhich can be positioned inside a vehicle 18 and equipped with a memorycontaining the user identification code.

Alternatively, according to a preferred embodiment, the identificationdevice 17 consists of the mobile telephone of the user, who by means ofappropriate transmissions, for example SMS messages or a GPRSconnection, communicates his/her identity to a receiving devicepositioned in the column.

The device 17 ensures minimal electromagnetic pollution, limited energyconsumption and a high degree of autonomy.

Advantageously, detection sensors 11 present a minimum radius of actionof around 5 metres, an amplifier noise temperature of less than 290° K,an amplifier gain between 40 and 50 dB and a transmission frequencybetween 20 and 500 kHz.

The columns 10 and the fixed data transmission stations 20 can have amaximum emission power of 1 mW, a transmission time of less than 2 min/hand a transmission band between 10 Hz and 50 KHz. They can also beequipped with a microprocessor functioning at a frequency between 75 and100 MHz, with a RAM of up to 10 Mbyte and a fixed EEPROM of up to 500Kbyte while their interface with the control centre 21 can be thebidirectional serial type as they are equipped with an integrated modemfor data transmission.

The data collection centre 21 can receive the data by cable and byradio-frequency and can be equipped with means of intermittenttransmission (polling), restricting irradiated power to a minimum.

The antenna gain is advantageously between 3 and 6 dB, while thepreamplifier gain could fluctuate between 70 and 80 dB and thesignal/noise ratio between 50 and 60 dB.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE

The procedure for the management of the integrated automatic system, forthe remote monitoring and management of vehicle access and parking inurban areas on a selective basis, foresees:

-   -   the detection of the presence of a vehicle 18 in a specific        respective parking space 19;    -   the recognition of the vehicle 18 as authorized or not        authorized to use the space 19;    -   the emission of a visual and/or acoustic signal confirming        occupation of the space 19;    -   the detection of the time in which the vehicle 18 is parked in        the parking space 19;    -   the transmission of the occupation of the parking space 19 and        of the data relative to the recognised or not recognised vehicle        18 to a general area control device 20;    -   the transmission of the data collected by several area control        devices 20 to a central unit 21 designed to store the data        relative to recognised vehicles 18 and to immediately report any        unauthorised occupation by vehicles 18 without authorization;    -   the calculation, by the central unit 21, of the fee in relation        to the parking time;    -   the transmission of the data regarding the fee to a bank        authorized for payment with the consent of the user.

The invention is described above with reference to a particularlyadvantageous embodiment.

It is nevertheless clear that the invention is susceptible to numerousvariations, within the framework of technical equivalents.

By way of example, one embodiment is foreseen which can be used inparticular in the case of ground level car parks.

In this case it is not possible to arrange an area of rows of vehiclesas in the cases described above, and the vehicles are not parked in anorderly fashion, and may even face different directions within the sameslot; the slots are very close to each other.

In order to set up the system according to this invention the use of amodified sensor installed on the vehicle is foreseen, having a pair ofLCD displays (one internal and one external), a pair of pushbuttons, forparking start and end respectively, an active RFID tag, a buzzer and atwo-color LED. The column, on-the other hand, is equipped with a vehiclesensor of the type described above and a bidirectional controller of theRFID tag.

Let's look at a typical case, in which the user intends to park in aground level car park. The vehicle sensor (VS) sends a request foridentification and the tag on the column (AT) replies.

The user then presses the “parking start” pushbutton, and the AT sendsthe ID and the parking start information to the VS.

The VS sends an acceptance signal to the AT (green LED for 2 seconds andbuzzer sound) and sends the data to the central system. At the end ofthe parking time the user presses the “parking end” pushbutton, the ATsends the information to the VS which replies in acceptance (green LEDfor 2 seconds and buzzer sound) and to the central system.

This and other variations are included within the framework described bythe following claims.

1. An integrated automatic system for remote monitoring and managementof vehicle access and parking in urban areas on a selective basiscomprising: a mobile recognition device, in which a user code ismemorized, and which can be positioned inside a vehicle; a detectionsensor installed close to a respective parking space; a networkconnecting the detection sensors to a fixed data collection station; anda control centre, connected to a second network, for decoding andreprocessing the data; wherein the mobile recognition device comprises apair of displays; a pair of parking start and end pushbuttons; an activeRFID tag; a buzzer; and a two-color indicator.
 2. A system according toclaim 1, further comprising: the second network connecting a pluralityof fixed stations designed to collect data from respective areas withparking spaces.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile recognitiondevice consists of a mobile telephone or a miniaturized device, whichcan be positioned inside the vehicle, equipped with a memory containingthe user identification code.
 4. A system according to claim 3, whereinthe code is transmitted automatically or manually by radio-frequency tothe detection sensors.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein each detectionsensor is located inside an external unit positioned close to arespective parking area.
 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein eachexternal unit comprises: luminous indicators which confirm the detectionof an authorized or not authorized vehicle; an interface, designed tocommunicate with the user; and means for issuing receipts or printedmessages of use to the authorized user.
 7. A system according to claim5, wherein each external unit presents a buzzer which is activated inthe event of detection of a vehicle parked without authorization.
 8. Thesystem of claim 2, wherein the mobile recognition device consists of amobile telephone or a miniaturized device, which can be positionedinside the vehicle, equipped with a memory containing the useridentification code.
 9. The system of claim 2, wherein each detectionsensor is located inside an external unit positioned close to arespective parking area.
 10. The system of claim 3, wherein eachdetection sensor is located inside an external unit positioned close toa respective parking area.
 11. The system of claim 4, wherein eachdetection sensor is located inside an external unit positioned close toa respective parking area.
 12. A system according to claim 6, whereineach external unit presents a buzzer which is activated in the event ofdetection of a vehicle parked without authorization.
 13. A method forthe management of an integrated automatic system for remote monitoringand management of vehicle access and parking in urban areas on aselective basis comprising: detecting the presence of a vehicle in aspecific respective parking space with a mobile recognition device, inwhich a user code is memorized, and which can be positioned inside avehicle; a detection sensor installed close to a respective parkingspace; a network connecting the detection sensors to a fixed datacollection station; and a control centre, connected to a second network,for decoding and reprocessing the data; wherein the mobile recognitiondevice comprises a pair of displays; a pair of parking start and endpushbuttons; an active RFID tag; a buzzer; and a two-color indicator;recognizing the vehicle as authorized or not authorized to use thespace; emitting a visual or acoustic signal confirming the occupation ofthe space; detecting the parking time of the vehicle in the parkingspace; transmitting the occupation of the parking space and of the dataregarding the recognised or not recognised vehicle to one or more areacontroller devices; transmitting the data collected by the one or morearea controller devices to a central processing unit designed to storethe data regarding recognized vehicles and to immediately report anyunauthorized occupation by vehicles without authorization; calculating,by the central unit, of the fee in relation to, the parking time; andtransmitting the data relative to the fee to a bank authorized forpayment with the consent of the user.